"The Next Episode" is a single by American rapper-producer
Dr. Dre, released on June 26, 2000
as the third single from his second studio album, ''
2001
The September 11 attacks against the United States by Al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror, were a defining event of 2001. The United States led a Participants in ...
'' (1999). The track features
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...
,
Kurupt and
Nate Dogg
Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011), known professionally as Nate Dogg, was an American singer and rapper. He gained recognition for providing guest vocals for a multitude of hit rap songs between 1992 and 2007, earning the ...
, but only Snoop Dogg is credited. It is a sequel to Dre and Snoop's famous single "
Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" from the former's debut album, ''
The Chronic''.
The song peaked at number 23 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100.
The song has been performed live numerous times by both Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Notable performances include the 2000
Up in Smoke Tour and as the opener to
Super Bowl LVI halftime show on February 13, 2022.
Background
The single is produced by Dr. Dre and fellow Aftermath producer
Mel-Man
Melvin Charles Bradford, professionally known as Mel-Man, is an American West Coast hip hop record producer and songwriter from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Signed with Aftermath Entertainment, he is best known for his work with Dr. Dre, producing ...
. Dre's verse was written by then Aftermath artists
Hittman,
The D.O.C. and Ms. Roq. The single's title harks back to Dre's and Snoop Dogg's smash hit "
Nuthin' But a "G" Thang" from Dre's 1992 solo debut ''
The Chronic'', in which Snoop Dogg instructs listeners at the end of the chorus to "just chill till the next episode". That line refers to the song "It's My Thing" from the
EPMD album
''Strictly Business'', which in fact did not refer to this single but to its predecessor, a song from 1993 originally recorded for ''
Doggystyle'' but not included in its final version. Snoop, Dre, and Nate each have verses, while Kurupt shares the hook with Snoop and Dre. The song has many references to 2Pac's "
California Love", which he did with Dre while at
Death Row Records
Death Row Records is an American record label that was founded in 1991 by The D.O.C., Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, and Dick Griffey. The label became a sensation by releasing multi-platinum hip-hop albums by West Coast-based artists such as Dr. Dre ('' ...
, and
To Live & Die in LA.
Originally listed on the back cover of ''
Doggystyle'' as "Tha Next Episode", the original version of the song was by Snoop Dogg featuring Dr. Dre, and had a much different beat and different lyrics. The original was 4:36 long, and referred to Dre's "
Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" numerous times. The background of the original was later used in
Warren G's "Runnin' Wit No Breaks" on the ''
Regulate...G Funk Era'' album.
The song's predominant sample interpolates "The Edge" by
David McCallum and producer
David Axelrod, originally released on McCallum's 1967 album ''Music: A Bit More Of Me''.
Music video
The music video is set in a
strip club
A strip club is a venue where strippers provide adult entertainment, predominantly in the form of striptease or other Erotic dancing, erotic or exotic dances. Strip clubs typically adopt a nightclub or Bar (establishment), bar style, and can also ...
with many strippers pole-dancing. It also features many rappers, including
Hittman,
Ice Cube
An ice cube is a small piece of ice, which is typically rectangular as viewed from above and trapezoidal as viewed from the side. Ice cubes are products of mechanical refrigeration and are usually produced to cool beverages. They may be produc ...
,
Warren G, and
Xzibit.
Remixes
A remix with the same name by Snoop Dogg and
Lil' Mo
Cynthia Karen Loving (born November 19, 1978), known professionally as Lil' Mo, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, television and radio personality. She is best known for her 2001 single " Superwoman Pt. II", featuring then-unknown rapper ...
appears on the mixtape ''DJ Felli Fel Featuring Snoop Dogg -
The Heavy Hitters
Alexander & Catalano was an Upstate New York based law firm practicing in the area of personal injury and worker's compensation related cases. The firm was headquartered in Syracuse, but also had offices in Rochester and Binghamton.
History ...
'', released in 2002. A remix with the music from "
Paradise City" by
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1985. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band comprised vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKa ...
is available unofficially. A version dubbed by
The Game
The Game or The Games may refer to:
Sports and games
* The Game (dice game) (German: ''Das Spiel''), a dice game designed by Reinhold Wittig
* The Game (mind game), a mind game, the objective of which is to avoid thinking about The Game itself
* ...
as a diss toward
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, and businessman. Born in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, Jackson began pursuing a musical career in 2000, when he produced ...
was released in 2005. A remix titled "TNE 2006" was released to radio airplay in 2006. It features Snoop Dogg & Nate Dogg.
Joe Budden rapped over the beat during an appearance on
DJ Green Lantern Sirius Satellite Radio show with
Charles Hamilton Charles Hamilton may refer to:
People in Canada
* Charles Hamilton (bishop) (1834–1919), Anglican bishop of Ottawa
* Charles Edward Hamilton (1844–1919), Canadian politician
* Sir Charles Hamilton, 2nd Baronet, of Marlborough House (1767–184 ...
. The prizefighter remix was released in 2001, featuring 2Pac, DMX and Nas. RED drummer Joe Rickard is known to perform this song among other popular rap and hip hop songs live in concert in a medley. A version in Arabic appeared in the 2012 film ''
The Dictator'' performed by Aiwa, Mr Tibbz, and actor
Sacha Baron Cohen as the film's title character, Admiral General Aladeen. In November 2014,
trap music producer
San Holo released a remix of the song that has since garnered over 250 million views on
YouTube. A version by Lyric Jones,
Rah Digga and
Mark Batson appears in the 2018 film ''
Dude''.
Track listing
* UK CD single #1
# "The Next Episode" (LP Version) – 2:42
# "Bad Guys Always Die"
(featuring Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
) – 4:38
# "The Next Episode" (Instrumental) – 2:43
# "The Next Episode" (Music Video)
* UK CD single #2
# "The Next Episode" (LP Version) - 2:42
# "Fuck You" - 3:25
# "Bang Bang" (Instrumental) - 3:42
# "Forgot About Dre" (Instrumental) - 3:54
# "Forgot About Dre" (Music Video)
* 12" vinyl
# "The Next Episode" (LP Version) – 2:42
# "Bad Guys Always Die"
(featuring Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
) – 4:38
# "Bang Bang"
(featuring Hittman) - 3:42
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
, align="center", 74
, -
Certifications
Personnel
*Recorded at: Sierra Sonics, Encore Studios
*Engineer: Richard "Segal" Huredia
*Assistant engineer: Tom Gordon, Michelle Lynn Forbes, Dave Tenhouten
*Background Vocals - Kurupt
*Bass - Preston Crump
*Guitar - Sean Cruse
*Keyboards - Camara Kambon
*Rap
eaturing- Snoop Dogg, Kurupt
*Vocals
eaturing- Nate Dogg
*Director - Paul Hunter
*Writers - Ms Roq, Hittman, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg,
David McCallum
*Video cameo appearance -
Xzibit,
Hittman,
Warren G
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Next Episode, The
2000 singles
Dr. Dre songs
Snoop Dogg songs
Nate Dogg songs
Ivy Queen songs
Songs about cannabis
Music videos directed by Paul Hunter (director)
Songs written by Dr. Dre
Songs written by Snoop Dogg
Song recordings produced by Dr. Dre
Aftermath Entertainment singles
Interscope Records singles
Internet memes
Songs written by Nate Dogg
1999 songs
Song recordings produced by Mel-Man